In preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, France's Interior Ministry has rejected approximately 5,000 security accreditation requests from volunteers and workers seeking involvement in the prestigious sporting event. Among these cases, about 1,000 applications were blocked due to suspicions of meddling or espionage.

The Interior Ministry released a statement on Tuesday, revealing that it had carried out around one million administrative investigations into various staff members for the 2024 Paris Games. These investigations aimed to identify potential threats and ensure the highest level of security during the event.

The investigations unveiled a range of concerns, including suspicions of meddling and espionage, individuals with criminal records, illegal alien statuses, radical Islam affiliations, and extreme right and left-wing ideologies. The Ministry emphasized that it successfully thwarted interference plans, stating that Russia is not the only country likely to meddle in France's affairs.

In a separate incident, a Russian national was placed under preliminary investigation in Paris on Tuesday amid fears of potential disruption to the Olympic Games. The Paris prosecutor's office has not yet disclosed which other countries are expected to interfere.

In addition to the thorough staff screenings, the Ministry also confirmed that it screened nearly 20,000 residents residing within the security perimeter around the Seine, where the Opening Ceremony is scheduled to take place. This will be the first time in Summer Games history that the ceremony will be held outside of a stadium, presenting unique and significant security challenges.

Despite these challenges, the ministry expressed confidence and stated that it is fully prepared after concluding final rehearsals on Tuesday evening. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, speaking on BFM, emphasized France's exceptional expertise in organizing such events, saying, "France knows how to organize what no one else in the world knows how to organize."

Darmanin further added, "Once a century, France knows how to be a time of fraternity and sport, but also to show that our country is the most beautiful in the world," highlighting the country's commitment to ensuring a successful and secure Paris Olympics 2024.